A reality TV star has been released from custody after she was charged with being involved in an international drug supply and money-laundering syndicate.
After gracing television screens earlier this year as a participant on The Bachelors, Marjorie Griffiths was arrested for alleged drug supply and money laundering.
The 26-year-old was woken by heavily armed specialist police officers and arrested during a dawn raid on her home in Umina Beach, on the NSW Central Coast, on October 26.
She has been charged with supplying 1kg of methamphetamine and 1kg of cocaine in Sydney earlier this year.
The cleaning company owner is also accused of knowingly dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars that were the proceeds of a crime.
Marjorie Griffiths appeared on this year’s season of The Bachelor
She has been charged with being involved in an international drug supply and money-laundering syndicate. Picture: Facebook
Police allege she was a major player in a criminal network that supplied large quantities of drugs before laundering the earnings of the illicit drug sales through an international syndicate.
On Wednesday, her lawyer James Lang argued there was no evidence his client knew what she was transporting.
Police allege the aspiring actor was carrying drugs on some occasions and bags of cash to launder on other occasions.
“(On the crown case, Griffiths) is a courier on any view serving a function of someone who’s of a much higher criminality,” Mr Lang said.
Crown prosecutor Jade Pearson argued the investigation into the criminal syndicate was ongoing, and several key elements of the brief against Ms Griffiths still had to be collected.
Key among them is a statement from an undercover agent, who the court was told received 1kg of cocaine directly from the reality TV personality on March 7.
The court was told she supplied 1kg of cocaine directly to an undercover police operative. Picture: Facebook
Ms Pearson said police were still trying to unlock two phones that were in Ms Griffiths’ possession at the time of her arrest that could also contain useful information.
The 26-year-old has been charged with failing to hand over the PIN code to an electronic device after an order from police.
Mr Lang said his client was in custody for the first time in her life and she was “well supported” by her parents and partner, who were in court to support her.
He argued the complexity of the case and the ongoing nature of the investigation meant Ms Griffiths could be behind bars on remand for a longer period than she would serve if convicted.
“It’s not a simple matter that will be over quickly,” he said, predicting the matter would still be in court in 2025.
The reality TV personality was arrested in October. Picture: NSW Police
Police conducted a dawn raid on her home on the NSW Central Coast. Picture: NSW Police
Justice Julia Lonergan agreed there would “inevitably” be a delay of at least 18 months in prosecuting the case due to the “ongoing” nature of the widespread investigation.
“The Crown case is not yet strong and had an absence in it in that there’s nothing to persuasively show the applicant knew what she was transporting,” she said.
Justice Lonergan granted Ms Griffith’s bail with strict conditions, including electronic monitoring, abstinence from drugs, and a curfew.
The former Bachelor contestant wore a green prison T-shirt and shorts and an anxious expression throughout the hour-long bail hearing.
Her furrowed brow didn’t ease when she was told she would be released into the custody of her parents.
Her friend Molly Rosewarn was also arrested in the raid in October. Picture: TikTok
She was charged with drug offences
The blonde beauty was paired with Thomas Malucelli, a 35-year-old restaurant manager, on the 10th season of the hit reality TV series, The Bachelor. She left the show after 12 weeks.
Her friend, Molly Rosewarn, was also arrested during the raid on Ms Griffiths’ house.
She was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and supplying more than an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.
Their close relationship has been splashed on social media, with Ms Griffiths sharing numerous photos and videos of her cuddling Ms Rosewarn, whom she called “my baby girl”.
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